Automobile signaling device



Sept. l5, 1925. 1,553,545-

f A. c. A V

Filed July 19. 1923 Sept; 1.5, 1925.

l A.. c. LQYOLA f `MJTOM )I3II..E: SIGNALING DEVICE Y Filed July 19. 192,1 s sneetsfshee s sept.f15,1925. v 1,553,545 v A. C. LOYOLA y I l AUTMOBILE ySICTNALING DEVICE Filed July 19. 19231 -5 sheets-sheet 4 y-fg La-" 9M; y e z @vi- A E Lngnla SepL 15. 1625.

` 1,553,545 A, C.' LOYOLA AUTOMOBILE SIGNALING DEVICE A. l Filed July x9, 19423 5-Shee'tS-Sheet i E; EL

Patented Sept. 15, 192'5.

UNITED STATES;

AnoLrH e. LQYOLA, or SACRAMENTO,CALIEOENIA.

AUTOMOBILE YsIGavALINs DEVICE.

i Application mea July 19, 1923. seliai No. 652,573.

T0 all whom t 'may concern:

Be it known that ApoLrH.. C. LoYoLA, a citizen of the Republic of Peru, residing at Sacramento, in the county Aof Sacramento a.nd ,State of; California, has invented certain new and useful ,Improvements in Auto? mobile Signaling VDevices, of which the following is ay specification. Y i

This'V invention relates-to new and useful improvements Ain automobile` signaling devices and has for its principalobject to provide la simpleand `eiiici'ent device for luse upon automobile to indicatevthe directionin which thev automobile-.is about to turn, or stop, .the deviceg being visible at night as well as in the day time.` il

Anotherimportant'object of the invention is to Yprovide anautomobilesignaling de-.

vice ofY the above-mentioned character which :is otsucha construction 4as to enable the sameto be mounted upon a vehicle andactuatedby lthe driver thereof without the necessity `of having to, move his hand from the Vsteering wheel. in order to give the proper signal so as to enable the vehicle in the rear to. .determine whether the. automobile isaboutto turn either tothe left or to the right,.or stop.` 'Y y Anl Aequally. important object lfof theyinventionris rto providean automobile signaling device of the above-.mentioned character which is ot such a-construction as to be operated by the persondriving thevehicle in a simple andl eflicient. manner wherein the proper signal isactuated and vfurthermore is provided with a meansto indicate to the driver of the vehicle the position of the signal. N

A still further object yof -the invention is to provide a signaling device of the above mentioned character' whichwill be operable in various positions to indicatethe ,direction in which the vehicle is travelling Aand this signal being actuated by a member conveniently located in close proximity and to the ready access of the operator of the vehicle.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automobile signaling device of the above mentioned character. which is simple in construction, inexpensive, strong and durable andwell adapted for the purposes for which it is designated. Y i l Other obfects and advantages of this in vention will become apparent during the oiuse of the -ollpwing description,

VIn the accompanying drawings forming a Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken on l line 3-7-3 of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows, f l Figureflis a detail view showing the innerV` side. of' the bracket plate ror casing,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the tenders in overlapping relation, i

Figure 6 is a plan view/of the fender con struction as shown 1n Fig. '5,' y

Figure 7 is a fragmentary detail of the movableV member showing the indicia on the front acethereof,

Figure 8 is a front elevation ofa support i for the actuating means for said movable member, showing the Asame mountedY upon the instrumentboard.,

of the same showing .the parts in section,

Figure '10 is a side elevationV of a signal indicating arm, I n ,A Y Y Figure 11 is a sectional vview taken on line 1x1-11y of Fig. 10,

Figure 12 is .a IVsectional view of va modi,- ication of ther signaling arm operating device,

Figure 9 is ay fragmentary side elevation Figure 13 is a sectional view taken online 13.*13 Of'Eig. 12,

Figure 14 is a front elevation, partly in Y section: of the operating lever used in con- ,i

junction ,with the. modification,

Figure 15 is af side. elevation of thesegy mental gear in the modification, and Y l Figure "16 is a sectiontaken on line 16-16 In the drawings wherein 'for the purpose of illustration is .shown the rpreferred em,-

bodiment of my inventiom'the numeral 1V designatesV generally fthe' circular casing and comprises the spaced iront and rear faces 2 and 3 respectively. These-faces are held in spaced relation by means of a ring Llrwhich' issecured to the inner sides ofthe front faces adjacent the edgesv thereof and .extends for the greater'circumterence of said faces for the purpose hereinafter to be more fully described. ,n

The front and .rear faces 2 and i3 of the casing 1 are furthermore provided with registering grooves 5 and 6 on the inner sides thereof, and these grooves 5 and 6 are arranged adjacent the under side ofv the split ring 4. Adapted to be supported ybetween the front and rear faces 2 and 3 of the casing 1 and within the grooves 5 and 6 formed therein, are the fenders '7 and 8 respectively. These fenders 7 V'and 8 are adapted to cover over vr.theopenings formed between the front and rear faces and between the free ends" of the split ring L1. The fender .7l is provided ywith an upstanding lug Quand this lug 9 is adapted to be slidably mounted in a longitudinal slot 10 provided in the .fender `8. rThe purpose of such a construction is toenable the fender 7 Vto movewith the movable member hereinafter to be more fullyl described, and .upon movement of the latter, the fender y7 will cause the A,upstanding lug 9 carried thereby to operate in the slot 10 provided in the fender 8 .and when .the lug has reached ,the extremity ofthe slot 1-0 it will cause the fender 8 Yto move .together with ,the movable member, and the fender 7 and ther-eby enable the proper rotation v.of Athe :movable member for the operation of the signaling member. 1t being further understood that the fender 8 is slidably associated with ,the under side lof lthe, split ringe.` Y

Rotatably Imounted upon `the vpin 12 in the casing 1 is the rotary member 13. r1`he ro- .,tary member 13 comprises an arcuateshaped member which :has portions thereof lhollowed *out to provide suitable receptacles for receiving weights or the like. The rotary member 13 is furthermore .provided with an internally threaded neck .portion 14 which extendsbetween the front and rear faces of V44the casing 1 and outwardly of said .split ring 1. rEhe internally threaded sleeve or neck portion 1li is furthermore adapted to receive the threaded end 15 of atubular rod 16, the latter carryingat its outerV end the yincandescent electric lamp bulb 17 and a suitable casing 18 is provided therefor. This `casing l18 has its side portions cut Aout as shown at 18" in ythe drawings' to permit the proper functioning of the .electric light bulb 17 whereby the same may be readily visible. Therpurpose of the tubular construction as shown at 16 *toA permit the .wiring to the .electric light bulb to be carried therein so as Ato lform a signal indicating arm. vThe rotary member 18 is provided at itsrfront face with the gear 19. This' gearr 19 is secured to the front face of :the rotary member 13' byv any suitable fastening means such yas .shown at 20 in the drawings.

, rotary member 13 isfurtherrnore provided with 'a cavity 21 and this cavity is arranged in registry with the threaded nec r 14 for the purpose of receiving a housing, the contacts The 22 and23 ,whic'h are mounted in -a suitable insulated casing 24. The contacts 22 and 23 are normally urged by the spring 25 throughthe `front face of the casing 211 and whereby the ,electric light bulb 17 may be i illuminated Eforthe vpurposes well known in the art.

In the opposite `faceofv the rotary member 13 is carried a .strip 2.8 on which is printed the necessary indicia as more clearlyshown in Figs. 5 and 7 ofthe drawing -and this strip is karranged Aon ythe rotary member in close proximityto the .connection with a signal indicating arm 416 and co-operating with the indicia carrying strip k28 is the slot or cut out portion V29 provided in the corresponding adjacent face of the casing 1 whereby ythe kposition of the signal arm 16 may be readily ascertained "bythe operator of the automobile without the necessity of having to glance out .of the car in ,order to determine the exact position of the 'signal indicating arm.. The Ycasing 1 is mounted upon the instrument yboardof the automobile as clearly shown in 1 ofthe drawings, and the signal indicating arm 16 is adapted to extend through a suitable open` ing provided the body of the automobile adjacent .the instru1nent`Jboard for the purpose of ypermitting the signal indicating arm to properly function. 'Y

For the purposejof operating the signal indicating arm kto various `positions in order to Agive the proper signals', 1 provide the sliding Ybar B0 which is provided with ratchet teeth 33 in its upper face for engagement with the gear 19 carried by the rotary member 18, and this sliding bar 30 vis yadapt'- ed to pass through a suitable opening provided in the extension ,4 and through a suitable guid-e 31 provided in; thel extension 32 which formsfa bracket for supporting the easing upon the instrument board. To further assure the ratchet teeth 33 on the upper face of the sliding bar SO'to mesh with the gear 19, I provide the guide roller 34 wit-hin the casing and in close proximity yto the :gear 19 in the manner'as more clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings whereby the free thev rodV 4Q. One end of the rod 40 is provided with a yoke 41 and this yoke' is adapt-l ed to co-operate with the yyoke 42fi'ormed upon the sliding bar l whereby a universal joint connection isY provided within the sliding bar 30 and the rod 40 for the purposes to be hereinafter more fully described.

A suitable pin 43 is carried by the rod and is adapted to be received in the slot 44 provided in the outer 'end' of the arm 45. The opposite end of the arm 45 is enlarged and is provided with' an enlarged aperture 46 4forthe"purpose `of receiving the Spherical head 47 of the actuating member 48. `This actuating member 48 extends longitudinally `onthe steering column 49' and is Vguided througlrasuitable apertu'red sleeve 50 which is passed-"around the steering column and secured its respective ends for the purposes'of providing a guide'forthe actuating me'mber'48. The upper end of the member`48"extendsfthrough asimilar guide as shown at 50" and' mounted adjacent the steering Vwheel v51 and is bent at an angle to vprovide'a quadrant which is in close proximity to the steering wheel whereby the actuatingmember 48 may be turned to move thearmttowards the 'left so .as to move the pin 43 and whichA results in the inward movement of the rod 44 so as to lcause the slidingl bar 30 to move inwardly. within the casing 1 'and impartV rotaryI movement throughv the' gear 19V through the rotary member '13. f f

Normally the signal 'indicating arm 16 isfdi'sposed downwardly and when the operatorofthe'vehicle desires to vturn either to the left 0r right, the actuating member 48 is operatedl so as to impart rotary'movement to'the rotary member 48 in the'mannerhereterore" described, and when this rotary member 13 rotates about thel pin 12,' the signal indicating arm 16will bec'aused'to movewith the same and thereby cause the' arm to move i 'in av horizontal position. The'position that the arni takes can'b'e readily seen by glancing to the aperture 29 provided inthe casing 1 and the indicia carried by the strip 28 which is mounted on one face of thek rotary member 13 and will at once indicate to the operator of the vehicle Vthe exact" position inwhich the armk is set. If the indicating means shows that the signal is extended toindieate that the vehicle is about to turn to the left, the operator'can cause the signal indicating arm to give the signal when he desires toturn to the right by merely operating the actuating member 48 until the desired position has been obtained.

To further hold the signal indicating arm 16 in proper position. the peripheral face of Ythe rotary member 13 is provided vwith spaced .depressions 52 and suitable flat Springs 53 are carried bythe inner side .of the Split ring 4 to .fit each 0r ,any of the depressions 52 upon the movementof: the

rotary member 13 so as to cause the depressions 52 to come in contactwith the flatunderstood that the Contact on' the rotary,l

members and inthe casing when the proper switch is turned on'will alight the electric light bulb 17 in' the outer end ofthe signal indicating armV -to make the signal clearly ViSibrle.

In Figs." 12, 13, '14, v15 andA 160i` vthe draw? ing a` modification of the signal operating mechanism is shown wherein the numeral '54 designates a casing provided With a reduced portion 55. A rotary member 56 is'mounted in the casing 54 and carried fonone face thereof a segmental gear 57.VA It being fur# ther understood that the rotary member' 2.6 is provided withA an internally threadedneck 58 similar'tothe threaded neck 14 forthe purpose of receiving a signalindicating arm as shownin Figs. 10 and-11 of the drawing.

Rotatably mounted in thereduc'edportion 55 of the casing 54 is the gear wheel 59 and this gear wheel Y59 is adapted to'r mesh with the segmental gear 57 which is carriedv 'by the rotary member 56'in any ysuitable manner such as is shown in Fig-16 ofthe'drawing. The gear wheel 59 is furthermore provided with a sleeve 60 which eXtendsin the casing and terminates in a' shank 61 the latter being square in cross section. V'Pivotally carried bythe sleeve GO'is the yoke 62 and this yoke is provided with a cylindrical socket VV63 at itsA lower end. Slidably mou'ntsocket 63 around the elongated rod 65V and 4 betweenthe lower end of.-the shank engaging member' 64 andY the bottomof the socket Normally the yoke62 is disposed'on the pivotalp'in 68 which is carried bythe sleeve 60y in a downward-position and when it .desired to rotate' the-'segmental gear 5j( I .whereby the rotary member; 56 is caused 'to Arotate in the casing 54 for the purpose of `properly operating the signal arm, the han- -dl'e66'is vpulled downwardly against the tension-ofi the spring-67 and the yoke 62 will then swing into a horizontal position nntillthe shank engaging ,member 64 isin registry with the shank A 61 and by releasing the handle 66 the spring 67 will :force the shank engaging member 64 into engagementl vWith the shank 61 thereby holding the yoke. 62 in horizontal alignment Withthe sleeve 6() and 'in this manner the gear -Wheel 59 .may be rotated for .the .purpose of imparting rotary movement to the seo-mental gear 57 and tothe rotary member 56.

'With the construction of the above 4mentioned character, a signal indicating arm may be mounted on the side of the car adj acent `the seat of the operator thereof and in close proximity to the driver whereby the handle 66 may be readily grasped to cause the -rotary movement of the. member 56 whereby the signal indicating arm is caused to be'thrown into the desired position ltoindicate the movement of the vehicle.

'It will thus be seen from the foregoing description that an automobile signaling device has been provided whereinA a proper signal will be given from the operator of the car to the vehicles in the rear thereof to indicate .the position of the direction the vehicleis'about to take and will thereby pre-` vent a number of accidents and collisions and furthermore relieve -the possibility of congestion. Furthermore `the signal arm is of such a construction as to enable the same to be readily visible both in theday time and in the night time.` Y

The simplicity of the arrangement of my signaling mechanism will be very efficient and essential to every automobile and can be placed thereon Without interfering with the operation of the vehicle in any manner and also at aminimum cost.

From the foregoing description of the construction of my improved apparatus, it Will be seen that 'I have provided a simple, inexpensive and eiiicient means for carrying out the objects of the invention, and while i I have particularly described the elements best adapted to perform `the functions set forth, itis obvious that various changes' in form, proportion, and in the minor details of construction may be resorted to Without vdeparting from the spirit or sacri-cing any of the principles of the invention.

I claim- 1. An automobile signaling device of the class described comprising a casing, a rotary member mounted therein, a signal indicating member detachably carried thereby and extending radially outwardly of saidcasing, means in said casing for operating Vsaid rotary member, said rotary memberV provided with spaced depressions Vin lthe periphery thereof, and spring means carried rby'said casing and adapted to iitin one of said depressions to hold the said signal indicating arm in an adjusted position. V

2. An automobile signaling deviceof the class described comprising a ,casing having a peripheral arcuateopening,f a'rotary meinyber mounted therein, a signal indicating casing toindicate the position of said indier eating arm. Y

3. An automobilesignaling device of the class described comprising acircular casing including spaced front land 'rear faces), -.a flanged split ring between Vthe peripheral edges thereof and extending Ifor the greater circumferenceV of said faces, a yrotary lmember mounted in said casing, a signal 'indicating arm carried by said movablermember and extending radially outwardly of said ring, means vin said casing for operating said movable member, said arm :movable between the ends of said split ring, andmeans for holding said movable member in apredetermined position.

4. An automobile signaling device :of the class described comprising a circular casing including spaced front'and rear faces, ya flanged split ring therebetween 1 adj acent the peripheral edges thereof and extending-for the greater'circumference o f saidifaces, a

V.movable member mounted in said .-casing, a

signal indicating -arm carried by said movable member and extending radially Outwardly of said ring, means in said casing for operating said movable member, said movable member being movable between the ends of said split ring, and means for actuating said last mentioned means.

5. An automobile signaling device zof the class described comprising a circular casing including spaced front and `rear faces, a lflanged split ring therebetweenY adjacent `the peripheral edges thereof and extending 4for the greater circumference of the faces, a movable member mounted in -said casing, fenders slidably mounted between said front and :rear faces and extending betweenn the ends of said split ring, said fenders adapted to be actuated by said movable member, ,a signal indicating arm.ca-r,ried by said movable member yand extending radially out# Wardly of said ring, .means in said-casing for operating said movable member, saidindieating' arm being movable between the ends of said ring, and means for holding said movable member in a predeterminedposit-ion.

1n testimony whereof I ain-X my signature.

aDoLrH 1c. LoroLi-fi.` 

